Already onboard are the Kerikeri Striders Multisports Club who are sponsoring the 10km run/walk event, with both the 17km run/walk and the main event, the 37km Ultra Run, still available.

Danilo said he decided to bring back the Cape Brett Challenge - a 37km endurance event over bush tracks and rugged hills which takes in the iconic Cape Brett lighthouse - after an absence of two years following the current resurgence of interest in trail and off-road running, but admitted he did not expect to be the one to orchestrate it.

"I was out running with Graeme Brown, who is a former organiser of the event, and we were talking about how good it would be to see it literally up and running again," said Danilo.

"He [Brown] said, 'why don't you organise it?' and that's how a Pom in New Zealand found myself re-establishing arguably the toughest run in Northland."

Danilo noted the "old" Cape Brett Challenge took place on six occasions from 2005 and proved a popular drawcard, with 250-300 contestants taking part in the event annually.

The 2013 Challenge has been set to take place on Saturday, April 27 (over Anzac weekend).

Danilo said the best point of contact would be through capebrettchallenge@gmail.com, phoning 09 407 1551, or visiting www.capebrettchallenge.com.